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Colorado State women aim to get better on the boards

Rams have MW-worst minus-6.6 rebounding margin

By Sean Star Sports Writer

Posted:
01/03/2013 09:31:43 PM MST

Colorado State forward Kara Spotton (20) and the Rams rank last in the Mountain West in rebounding margin (minus-6.6), something theyâ ll try to improve tonight against South Dakota Mines.
(CLIFF GRASSMICK)

FORT COLLINS -- Through the first five games this season, the Colorado State women's basketball team was nearly even with opponents on the boards. While getting off to a 2-3 start, the Rams were grabbing 41.2 rebounds a game, their opponents 42.0.

But it's been a different story ever since, as the Rams have routinely gotten beat on the glass in going 1-6. Only once in those seven games were they not out-rebounded by the opposition, a 56-54 win over Cal State-Bakersfield.

Entering tonight's game against Division II South Dakota Mines (7 p.m., Moby Arena), coach Ryun Williams' team is last in the Mountain West in rebounding margin at minus-6.6, a mark that is ranked 303rd out of 343 Division I teams.

Sophomore forward Kara Spotton has noticed the drop off and knows it's something that needs correcting starting tonight against the Hardrockers (9-5), CSU's final non-conference test of the season.

"I think we've kind of let up on our toughness," Spotton said. "We actually were discussing that (Thursday). We just have to keep on getting in there and just making space for ourselves and getting in position to grab those rebounds, especially on defense we have to find our person.

"I think we definitely let up on that, and that's kind of a mental thing that we really just have to lock down on."

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Senior forward Meghan Heimstra says there's more to the issue, though, as the team has started using more zone defense recently, which can make controlling the boards more difficult. Regardless, though -- like Spotton -- Heimstra knows the team needs to be better.

"We've been having a lot of long rebounds playing in a zone, and every team has a hard time boxing out in a zone because you don't have one specific man that you're going to box out," said Heimstra, who is second on the team to Sam Martin with 5.0 boards a game. "It definitely needs to be more of a focus for us, but I wouldn't say it's an effort thing. I think it's just a lot of long rebounds."

Last time out, in a 64-59 double-overtime loss to Fordham, the Rams (3-9) gave up 18 offensive rebounds, which led to 18 second-chance points. Some of that was bad luck, Williams said, but some of it could've been avoided.

"We just got to commit to being a better rebounding team," the coach said. "I think our size hurts us at times. It means we've got to put a body on somebody. It's about kids engaging in a fight. When that shot goes up, they've got to want to engage in a rebounding fight. We're growing in that area."

On the other end of the floor, going to the offensive glass isn't every player's No. 1 priority, but it is something a handful of Rams are asked to do -- and must start doing better.

"We're not a great offensive rebounding team. We've got only a few kids that we send to the glass. We put more of our emphasis on taking away transition baskets," Williams said. "The kids that we think are pretty active on the glass we allow to go to the glass. And the kids that aren't got to go back on defense. We can pursue the ball with kids that are assigned that role; they can pursue it better."

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